Understanding the Source, Current Track, and Target options (Pro only)

In the Tracker Controls palette, you control which layer you want to track, which tracking data you want to use, and the layer or effect to which you want to apply tracking.

Motion Source

Specifies the layer that contains the motion you want to track. The menu lists all the moving footage layers in the current composition. If you selected a motion source or an effect point control of a layer before you opened the Tracker Controls palette, After Effects displays that layer for Motion Source.

Note: If you select a motion source from within the palette, you need to click either the Track Motion button or the Stabilize Motion button to create a new track.

Current Track

Displays the track for the source layer that contains the tracking data. Every layer can have multiple tracks associated with it, allowing you to track more than one feature in a layer or to track the same layer using different settings.(See Tracking motion to apply to other footage or images (Pro only).)

Motion Target

Specifies the footage, still image, or effect that you want to animate. When selected, the tracker applies position keyframes to the specified motion target layer to either animate or stabilize it. Change the target by clicking Edit Target and choosing a new target from the Layer pop-up menu in the Motion Target dialog box. The Edit Target button is not available if Raw is selected for Track Type.

Options

Opens the Motion Tracker Options dialog box, through which you can improve the accuracy of tracking and select third-party tracker plug-ins. (See Defining tracker options (Pro only).)